1. How did you get started in photography and when did you start your business?

Honestly, this sounds so cliché, but my love for photography started when I was young.  I used to set up photoshoots with my friends and we would use roll after roll of film playing around with different setups and wardrobes!  But my love really grew after I had my own children.  All of a sudden I had models right in front of me constantly and I couldn't bear to miss a single detail of them growing up!  When I was pregnant with our third daughter, my husband bought me my first DSLR, the original canon 5d, and I fell in love.  I couldn't believe the creative abilities I suddenly had before me!  I took my kids out all the time and did photo shoots for my family and friends and learned a lot of post processing techniques as I spent countless late nights on blogs, utube, you name it.  I couldn't stop learning.  I knew I was hooked.  So in the fall of 2010 I started portfolio building and opened up for business shortly after.  I knew immediately that my love was with newborns, and the journey began!

2. Where are you located? Do you have a studio space or do you shoot on-location?

I am located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  I have a studio in my basement for all newborn and baby sessions.  I do outdoor evening sessions in the fall for families. 

3. What do you shoot with and what are your favorite lenses?

I currently shoot with a canon 5d mark III and my favourite lens is my 100mm 2.8L, but I use my 50mm 1.4 the most often because it is more versatile for newborns.  I have the 35mm 1.4L on my wishlist.

4. What drew you to newborn photography? Do you photograph anything besides newborns?

I can't even explain how much I love the newborn stage.  I always tell my husband that I wish we could just always have a newborn around without having them grow up!  Haha.  Having had 4 babies myself I know how precious those first few days/weeks of life are and how fast they grow and change, and I love being able to capture those little features!  They are just so fresh from heaven and pure and I can't get enough ;)

5. How would you describe your style of photography and where do you find your inspiration?

I would say it is natural, pure and simple.  I started out trying a lot of different props and styles but it comes down to the simple shots that are always my favourite.  My style is always evolving and changing as I continue to grow as a photographer, but I just love a simple shot of baby laying on a textured blanket on my beanbag.  I love texture.  Natural fibers, lace, ruffles, cable knits, pretty headbands, furs, they all inspire me! 

There are also a lot of photographers that I follow on facebook or in forums who that inspire me. To name a few: Meg Bitton, Keri Meyers, Robin Long, Laura Brett, Tamsen Donker (Creative clicks) Shelly Ferguson, Baby as Art....  All for different reasons.  They each have their own unique styles that really speak to me!

6. Have you taken any photography workshops and/or training? 

Yes!  I am always learning, it's an addiction!  Like I said earlier,  a lot of what I learn is from forums and online training courses, YouTuube, blogs etc. as well as A LOT of practice!!!  But I have been to 3 amazing newborn workshops that I feel so lucky to have attended and learned so much from!  Robin Long in 2012, and Keri Meyers and Laura Brett in 2013!  I am also doing an online editing course with Meg Bitton next month and can't wait! 

7. Where do you like to shop for your props? Do you have favorite vendors?

I buy props from so many different vendors I can't even nail them all down!  A few favourites whose style I love are JD vintage props (for my furs and floaktis, devoted knits, roses and ruffles for fabric, Mr. and Mrs. and co, Home Sense, and I make a lot of my own headbands as well!  For maternity I bought some lovely gowns from TAOPAN. 

8. Please share with us your top 5 favorite images! Why are they your favorites?

My favourites change all the time but these are my current favourites, next month I will likely have new favourites :)

 I just love texture, colour pop and sweet innocence of the pose.

What's not to love!  It's Christmas!  I think this image is so dear to me because it took a full half an hour to get this shot!  It was the end of his session and mom asked for a shot in my sleigh.  He had been so good his whole session but started to be fidgety and unsettled. We pushed through and it ended up being perfect.  His little fingers wrapped around his little chin so perfectly in Santa's sleigh.  I just love it. 

 A mother's love for her newborn baby speaks right to my heart.  I loved loved loved those first days with each of my 4 babies!  Their smell, the little noises they made, their complete dependence, were all the things I cherished and can never forget, I love capturing mom's with their new loves :)

There is just something about newborn back rolls that I can't resist!  Plus I love the textures of the blankets he is on.  His face just looks so peaceful.

Can I sneak in a maternity shot?  I love this one!  The window light glowing on her perfect skin, the anticipation of the new baby coming.  I wish I had photos from when I was pregnant with each of my babies, that's one thing I regret, so I love giving this gift to other moms to be!

9. What are three things you wish someone would have told you when you started your photography business?

• Buy portraiture.  I have wasted so much time on other skin softening actions and I wish I had known about portraiture all along, it is so quick and easy and makes everyone's skin look amazing!
• Don't buy every prop you see.  Newborn photography is an expensive business!  It is important to remember that this is a BUSINESS and business expenses should be limited if you want to make any money!  I have bought so many props/blankets/hats etc that I still haven't even used.  I have defined a certain style now and a lot of what I bought in the past didn't really fit with my style/brand.  Be selective and try to find different uses for the same prop/fabric to create diversity.
• Join forums online and make friends with other photographers!  I have recently started focusing a lot more on this and am learning and growing so much faster just by sharing and seeing what has worked for others.  There is so much talent out there ;)

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Would you like to be our next Spotlight Photographer of the Week? Please e-mail Keri at info@newbornphotography.com with the subject "Spotlight Photographer" and we'll get you on the calendar!